Depression in the elderly: biologic considerations.
Although support for the biologic basis and effective somatic therapy of geriatric depression is increasing, both patients and clinicians are reluctant to identify and treat the symptoms associated with late-life depression, a broad-based problem in the geriatric population. There is much clinical and biologic overlap between depression and other organic brain disorders such as dementia, with evidence that late-onset depression may sometimes be a prodrome for other organic disorders. These and other issues surrounding geriatric depression are reviewed with a focus on future research questions.
Sunderland
T
T
Geriatric Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Lasser
R A
RA
Levin
R
R
Dukoff
R A
RA
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans